Read operation circuit, semiconductor memory, and read operation method

ABSTRACT

Embodiments provide a read operation circuit, a semiconductor memory, and a read operation method. The read operation circuit includes: a DBI encoder configured to read read data from a memory bank, and determine whether to invert the read data according to the number of bits of high data in the read data to output global bus data for transmission through a global bus and DBI data for transmission through a DBI signal line, a DBI port being configured to receive the DBI data; a parallel-to-serial conversion circuit configured to perform parallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data to generate output data of the DQ port; a data buffer module connected to the memory bank through the global bus; and a precharge module connected to a precharge signal line and configured to set an initial state of the global bus to Low.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of PCT/CN2020/097403, filed on Jun.22, 2020, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No.201911021476.2, titled “READ OPERATION CIRCUIT, SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY,AND READ OPERATION METHOD” and filed to the State Intellectual PropertyOffice on Oct. 25, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of semiconductor memorytechnologies, and more particularly, to a read operation circuit, asemiconductor memory, and a read operation method.

BACKGROUND

A semiconductor memory includes a static random-access memory (SRAM), adynamic random access memory (DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random accessmemory (SDRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and a flash memory, etc.

In a DRAM protocol of the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council(JEDEC), there are requirements for speed and power saving of the DRAM.How to ensure the DRAM to be more power-saving while ensuring theintegrity of a signal and the reliability of data transmission andstorage is a problem to be solved urgently in the industry.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a read operation circuit,a semiconductor memory, and a read operation method to solve oralleviate one or more technical problems in the existing technologies.

In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide aread operation circuit used in a semiconductor memory, wherein thesemiconductor memory comprises a Data Queue (DQ) port, a data businversion (DBI) port, and a memory bank. The read operation circuitcomprising:

a DBI encoder connected to the memory bank, wherein the DBI encoder isconfigured to read data from the memory bank, and determine whether toinvert the read data according to number of bits of high data in theread data to output global bus data for transmission through a globalbus and DBI data for transmission through a DBI signal line, wherein theDBI port is configured to receive the DBI data;

a parallel-to-serial conversion circuit connected between the DQ portand the DBI encoder through the global bus and configured to performparallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data to generate outputdata of the DQ port;

a data buffer module connected to the memory bank through the globalbus; and

a precharge module connected to a precharge signal line and configuredto set an initial state of the global bus to Low.

In one embodiment, the DBI encoder is configured to output inverted dataof the read data as the global bus data and set the DBI data to High ifthe number of bits of the high data in the read data is greater than apreset value, and output original read data as the global bus data andset the DBI data to Low if the number of bits of the high data in theread data is less than or equal to the preset value.

In one embodiment, the M-bit DBI data is corresponding to the M groupsof read data one to one, and the M-bit DBI data is corresponding to theM groups of global bus data one to one. The parallel-to-serialconversion circuit is also connected between the DBI encoder and the DQport to output the M-bit DBI data processed by parallel-to-serialconversion to the DQ port, wherein the M is an integer greater than 1.

In one embodiment, each group of read data has N bits, the N being aninteger greater than 1. The DBI encoder is configured to output inverteddata of a group of read data inputted as a corresponding group of globalbus data and set 1-bit DBI data corresponding to the group of read datainputted to High if the number of bits of high data in the group of readdata inputted is greater than N/2, and output a group of read datainputted as a corresponding group of global bus data and set 1-bit DBIdata corresponding to the group of read data inputted to Low if thenumber of bits of the high data in the group of read data inputted isless than or equal to N/2.

In one embodiment, the DBI encoder comprises:

a DBI encoder unit, an input terminal of the DBI encoder unit isconnected to the memory bank, an output terminal of the DBI encoder unitbeing connected to the DBI signal line, and the DBI encoder unit isconfigured to set the DBI data to High if the number of bits of the highdata in the read data is greater than a preset value, and set the DBIdata to Low if the number of bits of the high data in the read data isless than or equal to the preset value; and

a data selector, an input terminal of the data selector being connectedto the DBI encoder unit to receive the read data through the DBI encoderunit, the input terminal of the data selector being configured toreceive the DBI data through the DBI signal line, and an output terminalof the data selector being connected to the parallel-to-serialconversion circuit through the global bus. The data selector isconfigured to output inverted data of the read data as the global busdata if the DBI data is High, and output original read data as theglobal bus data if the DBI data is Low.

In one embodiment, the data selector comprises a plurality of dataselection units, each of the plurality of data selection unitscomprising:

a first inverter, an input terminal of the first inverter beingconfigured to receive the DBI data through the DBI signal line;

a second inverter, an input terminal of the second inverter beingconnected to the DBI encoder unit to receive the read data from the DBIencoder unit;

a first transmission gate, an input terminal of the first transmissiongate being connected to an output terminal of the second inverter, anoutput terminal of the first transmission gate being connected to theglobal bus to output the global bus data, a negative control terminal ofthe first transmission gate being connected to an output terminal of thefirst inverter, and a positive control terminal of the firsttransmission gate being configured to receive the DBI data through theDBI signal line; and

a second transmission gate, an input terminal of the second transmissiongate being connected to the DBI encoder unit to receive the read datafrom the DBI encoder unit, an output terminal of the second transmissiongate being connected to the global bus to output the global bus data, anegative control terminal of the second transmission gate beingconfigured to receive the DBI data through the DBI signal line, and apositive control terminal of the second transmission gate is connectedto the output terminal of the first inverter.

In one embodiment, the data selector comprises a plurality of dataselection units, and each of the plurality of data selection unitscomprising:

a third inverter, an input terminal of the third inverter beingconfigured to receive the DBI data through the DBI signal line;

a fourth inverter, an input terminal of the fourth inverter beingconnected to the DBI encoder unit to receive the read data from the DBIencoder unit;

a first logic AND gate, a first input terminal of the first logic ANDgate being connected to the DBI encoder unit to receive the read datafrom the DBI encoder unit, and a second input terminal of the firstlogic AND gate being connected to an output terminal of the thirdinverter;

a second logic AND gate, a first input terminal of the second logic ANDgate being configured to receive the DBI data through the DBI signalline, and a second input terminal of the second logic AND gate beingconnected to an output terminal of the fourth inverter; and

a logic OR gate, two input terminals of the logic OR gate beingrespectively connected to an output terminal of the first logic AND gateand an output terminal of the second logic AND gate, and an outputterminal of the logic OR gate being connected to the global bus tooutput the global bus data.

In one embodiment, the data buffer module comprises a plurality of PMOStransistors, wherein a gate of each of the plurality of PMOS transistorsbeing connected to the memory bank, and a drain of each of the pluralityof PMOS transistors being connected to the global bus. The prechargemodule comprises a plurality of NMOS transistors and a plurality of holdcircuits, a gate of each of the plurality of NMOS transistors beingconnected to the precharge signal line, and a drain each of theplurality of NMOS transistors being connected to the global bus. Aninput terminal and an output terminal of each of the plurality of holdcircuits being connected to the global bus.

In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide asemiconductor memory, comprising a DQ port, a DBI port, a memory bank,and any one of the read operation circuits mentioned above.

In a third aspect, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide aread operation method used in a semiconductor memory. The read operationmethod comprises:

setting an initial state of a global bus to Low;

reading read data from the memory bank;

determining whether to invert the read data according to the number ofbits of high data in the read data to output global bus data fortransmission through the global bus and DBI data for transmissionthrough a DBI signal line; and

performing parallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data togenerate output data of the DQ port.

In one embodiment, the determining whether to invert the read dataaccording to the number of bits of high data in the read data to outputglobal bus data for transmission through the global bus and DBI data fortransmission through a DBI signal line comprises:

outputting inverted data of the read data as the global bus data andsetting the DBI data to High if the number of bits of the high data inthe read data is greater than a preset value; and

outputting original read data as the global bus data and setting the DBIdata to Low if the number of bits of the high data in the read data isless than or equal to the preset value.

In one embodiment, the determining whether to invert the read dataaccording to the number of bits of high data in the read data to outputglobal bus data for transmission through the global bus and DBI data fortransmission through a DBI signal line comprises:

dividing the read data into M groups, wherein each group of read datahas N bits, and both the M and the N being integers greater than 1;

outputting inverted data of a group of read data inputted as acorresponding group of global bus data and setting 1-bit DBI datacorresponding to the group of read data inputted to High if the numberof bits of high data in the group of read data inputted is greater thanN/2; and

outputting a group of read data inputted as a corresponding group ofglobal bus data and setting 1-bit DBI data corresponding to the group ofread data inputted to Low if the number of bits of the high data in thegroup of read data inputted is less than or equal to N/2.

According to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, more data “0” can be transmitted through a global bus havinga precharge low architecture, such that the number of inversions of theinternal global bus can be reduced. In this way, electric current isreduced significantly, and power consumption is decreased.

The above summary is for the purpose of illustration only and is notintended to be limiting in any way. In addition to the illustrativeaspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects,embodiments, and features of the present disclosure will be readilyapparent by reference to the drawings and the following detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or similarparts or elements throughout the several drawings unless otherwisespecified. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. It shouldbe understood that these drawings depict only some embodiments disclosedaccording to the present disclosure and should not be deemed aslimitations on the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a partial structureof a semiconductor memory according to an implementation manner of thisembodiment;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a partial structureof the semiconductor memory according to another implementation mannerof this embodiment;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram (corresponding to onememory bank) of a data buffer module according to an implementationmanner of this embodiment;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram (corresponding to aplurality of memory banks) of the data buffer module according to animplementation manner of this embodiment;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a schematic diagram of a DBI function;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a DBI encoderaccording to an implementation manner of this embodiment;

FIG. 7-1 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a data selectionunit according to an implementation manner of this embodiment;

FIG. 7-2 schematically illustrates a block diagram of the data selectionunit according to another implementation manner of this embodiment; and

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a read operation methodaccording to an implementation manner of this embodiment.

REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

-   -   10: controller;    -   20: semiconductor memory;    -   21: parallel-to-serial conversion circuit;    -   22: data buffer module;    -   23: DBI encoder;    -   24: DQ port;    -   25: DBI port;    -   26: memory bank;    -   27: precharge module;    -   221: PMOS transistor;    -   222: NMOS transistor;    -   223: hold circuit;    -   231: DBI encoder unit;    -   232: data selector;    -   232′: data selection unit;    -   232A: first inverter;    -   232B: second inverter;    -   232C: first transmission gate;    -   232D: second transmission gate;    -   232E: third inverter;    -   232F: fourth inverter;    -   232G: first logic AND gate;    -   232F: second logic AND gate; and    -   232K: logic OR gate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiment will now be described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can beimplemented in a variety of forms and should not be construed as beinglimited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodimentsare provided such that the present disclosure will be thorough andcomplete and will fully convey the concepts of the exemplary embodimentsto those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawingsdenote the same or similar parts, and thus repeated description thereofwill be omitted.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a partial structureof a semiconductor memory according to an implementation manner of thisembodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor memory 20 includes aDQ port 24, a data bus inversion (DBI) port 25, a memory bank 26, and aread operation circuit. The read operation circuit includes a globalbus, a DBI signal line, a parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 21, adata buffer module 22, and a DBI encoder 23. In one embodiment, thesemiconductor memory 20 is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), suchas a double data rate SDRAM 4 (abbreviated as DDR4).

In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, an active command can enable theonly designated memory bank 26, and the read operation can only beperformed on one memory bank 26. That is, when one memory bank amongeight memory banks 26 (i.e. Bank<7:0>) is operating, the other memorybanks are not operating. By means of the read operation circuit, theread data D<127:0> in the memory bank 26 outputs 8-bit output dataDQ<7:0> through the DQ port 24. It is to be noted that the number ofmemory banks 26, the number of data bits of each memory bank 26, and thenumber of data bits of the DQ port 24 and the number of DQ ports 24 arenot limited in this embodiment. For example, there may be one DQ port 24configured to output 16-bit output data. There may also be two DQ ports24, and each of the two DQ ports 24 is configured to output 8-bit outputdata.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the output data DQ<7:0> is obtained byperforming a read operation on a group of memory banks Bank<7:0> by oneread operation circuit mentioned above, and the output data DQ<15:8> isobtained by performing a read operation on another group of memory banksBank<15:8> by another read operation circuit mentioned above.Correspondingly, among eight memory banks 26 (i.e., Bank<15:8>)corresponding to the output data DQ<15:8>, when one memory bank isoperating, the other memory banks are not operating.

The semiconductor memory 20 has an array structure, and each unit mayhave the same structure. However, because inputted data are different,data outputted by each unit may be different. The read operation circuitof this embodiment is introduced below by taking one of the memory banksas an example.

The DBI encoder 23 is connected to the memory bank 26 and is configuredto read read data such as D<127:0> from the memory bank 26, anddetermine whether to invert the read data according to the number ofbits of high data in the read data to output global bus data fortransmission through a global bus and DBI data for transmission througha DBI signal line. High data may be data equal to “1”, and low data maybe data equal to “0”. Inversion of data may be understood as inversionfrom “0” to “1”, or inversion from “1” to “0”. The inversion of a dataline or a signal line may be understood as inversion from a high levelto a low level, or inversion from a low level to a high level.

In one embodiment, the DBI encoder 23 is configured to output inverteddata of the read data as the global bus data and set the DBI data toHigh if the number of bits of the high data in the read data is greaterthan a preset value, and output original read data as the global busdata and set the DBI data to Low if the number of bits of the high datain the read data is less than or equal to the preset value.

In one example, multi-bit read data is not grouped. That is, the DBIdata may be 1-bit data, and the DBI data outputted by the DBI encoder 23may be directly outputted to the DBI port 25 without passing through theparallel-to-serial conversion circuit 21. In one example, multi-bit readdata may be grouped. For example, in one embodiment, the read data andthe global bus data are both divided into M groups, the DBI data has Mbits, the M-bit DBI data is corresponding to the M groups of read dataone to one, and the M-bit DBI data is corresponding to the M groups ofglobal bus data one to one. The parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 21is also connected between the DBI encoder 23 and the DBI port 25 tooutput the M-bit DBI data processed by parallel-to-serial conversion tothe DQ port, wherein the M is an integer greater than 1. It is to benoted that the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 21 may include twoparallel-to-serial conversion modules respectively configured to performparallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data and the DBI data,which is not limited in this embodiment.

Further, each group of read data may have N bits, wherein the N is aninteger greater than 1. The DBI encoder 23 is configured to outputinverted data of a group of read data inputted as a corresponding groupof global bus data and set 1-bit DBI data corresponding to the group ofread data inputted to High if the number of bits of high data in thegroup of read data inputted is greater than N/2, and output a group ofread data inputted as a corresponding group of global bus data and set1-bit DBI data corresponding to the group of read data inputted to Lowif the number of bits of the high data in the group of read datainputted is less than or equal to N/2.

For example, the read data D<127:0> is divided into 16 groups, eachgroup of read data has 8 bits, and each group of read data iscorresponding to 1-bit DBI data. Correspondingly, the DBI data has 16bits, such as DBI<15:0>. The global bus data D1′<127:0> will also bedivided into 16 groups accordingly. Each 1-bit DBI data is correspondingto a group of global bus data. For a group of read data D<127:120>, ifthe number of bits equal to “1” in D<127:120> is greater than 4 bits,the corresponding DBI<15>=1, and a group of global bus data D′<120:127>outputted is equal to the inverted data of D<127:120>; and if the numberof bits equal to “1” in the read data is less than or equal to 4 bits,the corresponding DBI<15>=0, and a group of global bus data D′<120:127>outputted is D<127:120>.

Hence, when DBI<15>=1, the global bus data D′<127:120> outputted fromthe DBI encoder 23 is the inverted data of the read data D<127:120> ofthe memory bank 26 (such as Bank0). When DBI<15>=0, the global bus dataD′<127:120> outputted from the DBI encoder 23 is the read dataD<127:120> of the memory bank 26 (such as Bank0). That is, the read dataD′<127:120>=D<127:120>. Similarly, when DBI<1>=1, the global bus dataD′<15:8> outputted from the DBI encoder 23 is the inverted data of theread data D<15:8> of the memory bank 26 (such as Bank0). When DBI<1>=0,the global bus data D′<15:8> outputted from the DBI encoder 23 is theread data D<15:8> of the memory bank 26 (such as Bank0). That is, theglobal bus data D′<15:8>=D<15:8>. When DBI<0>=1, the global bus dataD′<7:0> outputted from the DBI encoder 23 is the inverted data of theread data D<7:0> of the memory bank 26 (such as Bank0). When theDBI<0>=0, the global bus data D′<7:0> outputted from the DBI encoder 23is the read data D<7:0> of the memory bank 26 (such as Bank0). That is,the global bus data D′<7:0>=D<7:0>.

In one example, there are a plurality of global buses, which are dividedinto M (M is an integer greater than 1) groups, wherein each of theplurality of global buses transmits 1-bit global bus data. For example,there are 128 global buses, which are divided into 16 groups. The globalbus <0> transmits global bus data D′<0>; the global bus <1> transmitsglobal bus data D′<1>; . . . ; and the global bus <127> transmits globalbus data D′<127>.

In one example, there are 16 DBI signal lines, and each DBI signal linetransmits 1-bit DBI data. For example, the DBI signal line <0> transmitsDBI data DBI<0>, and is corresponding to the global bus data D′<7:0> tomanifest whether D′<7:0> is the inverted data. the DBI signal line <1>transmits DBI data DBI<1>, and is corresponding to the global bus dataD′<15:8> to manifest whether D′<15:8> is the inverted data; . . . ; andthe DBI signal line <15> transmits DBI data DBI<15>, and iscorresponding to the global bus data D′<127:120> to manifest whetherD′<127:120> is the inverted data.

The parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 21 is connected between the DQport 24 and the DBI encoder 23 through the global bus and is configuredto perform parallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data togenerate output data of the DQ port 24. For example, theparallel-to-serial conversion circuit 21 performs parallel-to-serialconversion on 128-bit global bus data D′<127:0> corresponding to Bank 0to generate 8-bit output data DQ<7:0>, and transmits the output dataDQ<7:0> to the DQ port 24 through a data bus. Thus, there are more data“0” among the global bus data D′<127:0> transmitted through the globalbus. Accordingly, in the semiconductor memory 20 as shown in FIG. 2,there are more data “0” among the 256-bit global bus data (including the128-bit global bus data corresponding to DQ<7:0> and the 128-bit globalbus data corresponding to DQ<15:8>).

The data buffer module 22 is connected to the memory bank 26 through theglobal bus, and the precharge module 27 is connected to a prechargesignal line and is configured to set an initial state of the global busto Low. That is, in this embodiment, the semiconductor memory 20 uses aprecharge low global bus transmission structure.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a circuit diagram (corresponding to onememory bank 26) of the data buffer module 22 and the precharge module 27according to an implementation manner of this embodiment. FIG. 4schematically illustrates a circuit diagram (corresponding to eightmemory banks 26) of the data buffer module 22 and the precharge module27 according to an implementation manner of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the data buffer module 22 includes aplurality of positive channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS)transistors 221, and the precharge module 27 includes a plurality ofnegative channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistors 222 and aplurality of hold circuits 223. A gate of each of the plurality of PMOStransistors 221 is connected to the memory bank 26, and a drain of eachof the plurality of PMOS transistors 221 is connected to the global bus.A gate of each of the plurality of NMOS transistors 222 is connected tothe precharge signal line, and a drain of each of the plurality of NMOStransistors 222 is connected to the global bus. An input terminal and anoutput terminal of each of the plurality of hold circuits 223 areconnected to the global bus to form a positive feedback circuit.

The precharge signal line is configured to set the initial state of eachglobal bus to Low. In this process, a pull-down pulse (about 2 ns) isgenerated by the precharge signal line to pull down a certain global busfor a moment, and the hold circuit 223 forms a positive feedback andlatches this global bus at a low level. However, the hold circuit 223has weaker ability in pulling up and pulling down electric current. Whena certain global bus needs to be inverted to a high level, a data line(i.e., a data line connected to the gate of the corresponding PMOStransistor 221) corresponding to this global bus is pulled down (also apulse about 2 ns), such that the PMOS transistor 221 pulls up thisglobal bus for a moment (the pull-up ability is better than thepull-down ability of the hold circuit 223). Next, this global bus islatched to a high level through the positive feedback. In this way,inversion of the data line is completed. There are more data “0” amongthe global bus data D′<127:0>, and thus fewer inversions are required.Therefore, the IDD4R (read current) of the semiconductor memory will bereduced, such that the power consumption of the semiconductor memory canbe reduced.

Functions of the DBI port 25 are introduced below with reference to FIG.5. Data outputted from the semiconductor memory 20 include the DBI dataof the DBI port 25 and the output data of the DQ port 24. When the DBIdata of the DBI port 25 is equal to 1, the output data such as DQ<7:0>needs to be inverted, and the inverted data is outputted to a controller10. When the DBI data of the DBI port 25 is equal to 0, the originaloutput data may be directly transmitted to the controller 10. An On-DieTermination (ODT) of the semiconductor memory 20 can absorb the electriccurrent of the DQ port 24 to prevent a signal from forming reflection onan internal circuit of the semiconductor memory 20. During the operationof the semiconductor memory 20, a magnitude of the ODT is adjusted tomatch the controller 10. In one example, the ODT has a precharge lowstructure. When the data of the DQ port 24 is “1” (i.e., high data),there is larger leakage current flowing through the ODT, which mayincrease power consumption. In this embodiment, there are more data “0”among the output data of the DQ port 24, and thus the power consumptionof the semiconductor memory can be further decreased.

In the related technologies, in the case that the DBI function isenabled, when the semiconductor memory is performing a read operation, amodule configured to invert and encode data is arranged at a positionwhere the data is about to be outputted from the semiconductor memory,i.e., arranged behind the parallel-to-serial conversion module.Therefore, in the related technologies, there are more data “1”transmitted through the internal global bus of the semiconductor memory,which may cause larger IDD4R and higher power consumption.

According to the semiconductor memory 20 of this embodiment, in theprocess of reading data from the semiconductor memory 20, when theglobal bus data has 256 bits, if it is needed to invert the 256-bitglobal bus data, it is only needed to invert 32-bit DBI data, such thatthe IDD4R electric current will be reduced significantly.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the DBI encoder 23 includes a DBIencoder unit 231 and a data selector 232.

An input terminal of the DBI encoder unit 231 is connected to the memorybank 26 through a local bus, and an output terminal of the DBI encoderunit 231 is connected to the DBI signal line and is connected to aninput terminal of the data selector 232. The DBI encoder unit 231 isconfigured to set the DBI data to High if the number of bits of the highdata in the read data is greater than a preset value, and set the DBIdata to Low if the number of bits of the high data in the read data isless than or equal to the preset value.

In one example, the DBI encoder unit 231 may include a plurality of DBIencoder subunits, and each of the plurality of DBI encoder subunits isconfigured to process a group of read data, and then output 1-bit DBIdata. For example, the data selection unit may have 16 DBI encodersubunits, which are respectively corresponding to 16 groups of readdata, and then 16-bit DBI data is outputted, wherein each group of readdata may have 8 bits.

An input terminal of the data selector 232 is connected to the DBIencoder unit 231 to receive the read data through the DBI encoder unit231, the input terminal of the data selector 232 is configured toreceive the DBI data through the DBI signal line, and an output terminalof the data selector 232 is connected to the parallel-to-serialconversion circuit 21 through the global bus. The data selector 232 isconfigured to output inverted data of the read data as the global busdata if the DBI data is High, and output original read data as theglobal bus data if the DBI data is Low.

In one embodiment, the data selector 232 includes a plurality of dataselection units 232′, and each of the plurality of data selection units232′ is configured to process 1-bit DBI data and a group of read data.For example, there may be 16 data selection units 232′, which arerespectively corresponding to 16 groups of read data and 1-bit DBI data,wherein each group of read data has 8 bits.

FIG. 7-1 and FIG. 7-2 illustrate two different implementation manners ofthe data selection unit 232′.

As shown in FIG. 7-1, the data selection unit 232′ includes a firstinverter 232A, a second inverter 232B, a first transmission gate 232C,and a second transmission gate 232D. An input terminal of the firstinverter 232A is configured to receive the DBI data through the DBIsignal line. An input terminal of the second inverter 232B is connectedto the DBI encoder unit 231 to receive the read data from the DBIencoder unit 231. An input terminal of the first transmission gate 232Cis connected to an output terminal of the second inverter 232B, anoutput terminal of the first transmission gate 232C is connected to theglobal bus to output the global bus data, a negative control terminal(the upper control terminal in FIG. 7-1) of the first transmission gate232C is connected to an output terminal of the first inverter 232A, anda positive control terminal (the lower control terminal in FIG. 7-1) ofthe first transmission gate 232C is configured to receive the DBI datathrough the DBI signal line. An input terminal of the secondtransmission gate 232D is connected to the DBI encoder unit 231 toreceive the read data from the DBI encoder unit 231, an output terminalof the second transmission gate 232D is connected to the global bus tooutput the global bus data, a negative control terminal of the secondtransmission gate 232D is configured to receive the DBI data through theDBI signal line, and a positive control terminal of the secondtransmission gate 232D is connected to the output terminal of the firstinverter 232A.

Taking DBI<0> and the read data D<7:0> as an example, as shown in FIG.7-1, when DBI=1, the global bus data D′<7:0> is the inverted data of theread data D<7:0>; and when DBI=0, the global bus data D′<7:0> is theread data D<7:0>.

It is to be noted that a group of second inverter 232B, firsttransmission gate 232C and second transmission gate 232D is configuredto process 1-bit read data and output 1-bit corresponding global busdata. That is, corresponding to 8-bit read data D<7:0>, there should beeight groups of second inverters 232B, first transmission gates 232C andsecond transmission gates 232D, and then 8-bit global bus data D<7:0> isoutputted.

As shown in FIG. 7-2, the data selection unit 232′ includes a thirdinverter 232E, a fourth inverter 232F, a first logic AND gate 232G, asecond logic AND gate 232H, and a logic OR gate 232K. An input terminalof the third inverter 232E is configured to receive the DBI data throughthe DBI signal line. An input terminal of the fourth inverter 232F isconnected to the DBI encoder unit 231 to receive the read data from theDBI encoder unit 231. A first input terminal of the first logic AND gate232G is connected to the DBI encoder unit 231 to receive the read datafrom the DBI encoder unit 231, and a second input terminal of the firstlogic AND gate 232G is connected to an output terminal of the thirdinverter 232E. A first input terminal of the second logic AND gate 232His configured to receive the DBI data through the DBI signal line, and asecond input terminal of the second logic AND gate 232H is connected toan output terminal of the fourth inverter 232F. Two input terminals ofthe logic OR gate 232K are respectively connected to an output terminalof the first logic AND gate 232G and an output terminal of the secondlogic AND gate 232H, and an output terminal of the logic OR gate 232K isconnected to the global bus to output the global bus data.

Taking DBI<0> and the read data D<7:0> as an example, as shown in FIG.7-2, when DBI=1, the global bus data D′<7:0> is the inverted data of theread data D<7:0>; and when DBI=0, the global bus data D′<7:0> is theread data D<7:0>.

It is to be noted that a group of fourth inverter 232F, first logic ANDgate 232G, second logic AND gate 232H and logic OR gate 232K isconfigured to process 1-bit read data to output 1-bit correspondingglobal bus data. That is, corresponding to 8-bit read data D<7:0>, thereshould be eight groups of third inverters 232E, fourth inverters 232F,first logic AND gates 232G second logic AND gates 232H and logic ORgates 232K, and then 8-bit global bus data D<7:0> is outputted.

In practical applications, the semiconductor memory 20 of thisembodiment also includes other structures such as a sense amplifier anda precharge circuit, which are not repeated in this embodiment becausethey belong to the existing technologies.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a read operation methodaccording to an implementation manner of this embodiment. The readoperation method may be used in the semiconductor memory 20. As shown inFIG. 8, the read operation method may include:

Step S801: setting an initial state of a global bus to Low;

Step S802: reading read data from the memory bank;

Step S803: determining whether to invert the read data according to thenumber of bits of high data in the read data to output global bus datafor transmission through the global bus and DBI data for transmissionthrough a DBI signal line; and

Step S804: performing parallel-to-serial conversion on the global busdata to generate output data of the DQ port.

In one embodiment, the Step S803 may include: outputting inverted dataof the read data as the global bus data and setting the DBI data to Highif the number of bits of the high data in the read data is greater thana preset value; and outputting original read data as the global bus dataand setting the DBI data to Low if the number of bits of the high datain the read data is less than or equal to the preset value.

In one embodiment, the Step S803 may include: dividing the read datainto M groups, wherein each group of read data has N bits, and both theM and the N are integers greater than 1; outputting inverted data of agroup of read data inputted as a corresponding group of global bus dataand setting 1-bit DBI data corresponding to the group of read datainputted to High if the number of bits of high data in the group of readdata inputted is greater than N/2; and outputting a group of read datainputted as a corresponding group of global bus data and setting 1-bitDBI data corresponding to the group of read data inputted to Low if thenumber of bits of the high data in the group of read data inputted isless than or equal to N/2.

The read operation circuit provided by the embodiments of the presentdisclosure is used in a semiconductor memory whose global bustransmission structure is a precharge low architecture. By arranging theDBI encoder between the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit and thememory bank, more data “0” can be transmitted through the global bus,such that the number of inversions of the internal global bus can bereduced. In this way, electric current may be reduced significantly, andpower consumption may be decreased.

Reference throughout this specification to the terms “one embodiment,”“some embodiments,” “one example,” “an example,” or “some examples,”means that a feature, structure, material, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least oneembodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, thefeatures, structures, materials, or characteristics described may becombined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.In addition, without contradiction, those skilled in the art may combinedifferent embodiments or examples described in the specification andfeatures of different embodiments or examples.

In addition, the features, structures, or characteristics described maybe combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. However,those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the detailsmay be practiced without practicing the technical solutions of thepresent disclosure, and other methods, components, materials, devices,steps, and the like may be employed. In other instances, well-knownstructures, methods, devices, implementations, materials, or operationsare not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of thepresent disclosure.

Terms “first” and “second” are used only for purposes of description andare not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or to implythe number of indicated technical features. Thus, the feature definedwith “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at leastone such feature. In the description of the present disclosure, “aplurality of” refers to at least two, unless otherwise expresslyspecified.

It is to be noted that, steps of the method in the present disclosureare described in a particular order in the accompanying drawings.However, this does not require or imply to execute these stepsnecessarily according to the particular order, or this does not meanthat the expected result cannot be implemented unless all the shownsteps are executed. Additionally or alternatively, some steps may beomitted, a plurality of steps may be combined into one step forexecution, and/or one step may be decomposed into a plurality of stepsfor execution. Moreover, the above accompanying drawings are merelyillustrative description of processes included in the method accordingto the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are notintended to limit the present disclosure. It is easy to understand thatthe processes shown in the above accompanying drawings do not indicateor limit time sequences of these processes. Furthermore, it is also easyto understand that these processes may be executed, for example,synchronously or asynchronously in a plurality of modules.

In addition, although the spirit and the principle of the presentdisclosure have been described with reference to several embodiments, itshould be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to theseembodiments disclosed, and the division of various aspects does not meanthat the features in these aspects cannot be combined to get benefits,and this division is only for ease of expression. The present disclosureis intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangementsincluded within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The above-mentioned embodiments are merely embodiments of the presentdisclosure, but the protection scope of the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. Any variation or substitution easily conceivable to aperson of ordinary skills in the art within the technical scopedisclosed in the present disclosure shall fall into the protection scopeof the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of thepresent disclosure shall be subject to the protection scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A read operation circuit used in a semiconductormemory, wherein the semiconductor memory comprises a Data Queue (DQ)port, a data bus inversion (DBI) port, and a memory bank, the readoperation circuit comprising: a DBI encoder connected to the memorybank, wherein the DBI encoder is configured to read data from the memorybank, and determine whether to invert the read data according to numberof bits of high data in the read data to output global bus data fortransmission through a global bus and DBI data for transmission througha DBI signal line, wherein the DBI port is configured to receive the DBIdata; a parallel-to-serial conversion circuit connected between the DQport and the DBI encoder through the global bus and configured toperform parallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data to generateoutput data of the DQ port; a data buffer module connected to the memorybank through the global bus; and a precharge module connected to aprecharge signal line and configured to set an initial state of theglobal bus to Low.
 2. The read operation circuit according to claim 1,wherein the DBI encoder is configured to output inverted data of theread data as the global bus data and set the DBI data to High if numberof bits of the high data in the read data is greater than a presetvalue, and output original read data as the global bus data and set theDBI data to Low if the number of bits of the high data in the read datais less than or equal to the preset value.
 3. The read operation circuitaccording to claim 1, wherein the read data and the global bus data areboth divided into M groups, the DBI data having M bits, and the M-bitsDBI data being corresponding to the M groups of read data one to one,and the M-bits DBI data being corresponding to the M groups of globalbus data one to one; wherein the parallel-to-serial conversion circuitis further connected between the DBI encoder and the DQ port to outputthe M-bits DBI data processed by parallel-to-serial conversion to the DQport, wherein the M is an integer greater than
 1. 4. The read operationcircuit according to claim 3, wherein each group of read data has Nbits, the N being an integer greater than 1; wherein the DBI encoder isconfigured to output inverted data of a group of read data inputted as acorresponding group of global bus data and set 1-bit DBI datacorresponding to the group of read data inputted to High if number ofbits of high data in the group of read data inputted is greater thanN/2, and output a group of read data inputted as a corresponding groupof global bus data and set 1-bit DBI data corresponding to the group ofread data inputted to Low if number of bits of the high data in thegroup of read data inputted is less than or equal to N/2.
 5. The readoperation circuit according to claim 1, wherein the DBI encodercomprises: a DBI encoder unit, an input terminal of the DBI encoder unitbeing connected to the memory bank, an output terminal of the DBIencoder unit being connected to the DBI signal line, wherein the DBIencoder unit is configured to set the DBI data to High if the number ofbits of the high data in the read data is greater than a preset value,and set the DBI data to Low if the number of bits of the high data inthe read data is less than or equal to the preset value; and a dataselector, an input terminal of the data selector being connected to theDBI encoder unit to receive the read data through the DBI encoder unit,and the input terminal of the data selector being further configured toreceive the DBI data through the DBI signal line, and an output terminalof the data selector being connected to the parallel-to-serialconversion circuit through the global bus, wherein the data selector isconfigured to output inverted data of the read data as the global busdata if the DBI data is High, and output original read data as theglobal bus data if the DBI data is Low.
 6. The read operation circuitaccording to claim 5, wherein the data selector comprises a plurality ofdata selection units, each of the plurality of data selection unitscomprising: a first inverter, an input terminal of the first inverterbeing configured to receive the DBI data through the DBI signal line; asecond inverter, an input terminal of the second inverter beingconnected to the DBI encoder unit to receive the read data from the DBIencoder unit; a first transmission gate, an input terminal of the firsttransmission gate being connected to an output terminal of the secondinverter, an output terminal of the first transmission gate beingconnected to the global bus to output the global bus data, a negativecontrol terminal of the first transmission gate being connected to anoutput terminal of the first inverter, and a positive control terminalof the first transmission gate being configured to receive the DBI datathrough the DBI signal line; and a second transmission gate, an inputterminal of the second transmission gate being connected to the DBIencoder unit to receive the read data from the DBI encoder unit, anoutput terminal of the second transmission gate being connected to theglobal bus to output the global bus data, a negative control terminal ofthe second transmission gate being configured to receive the DBI datathrough the DBI signal line, and a positive control terminal of thesecond transmission gate being connected to the output terminal of thefirst inverter.
 7. The read operation circuit according to claim 5,wherein the data selector comprises a plurality of data selection units,each of the plurality of data selection units comprising: a thirdinverter, an input terminal of the third inverter being configured toreceive the DBI data through the DBI signal line; a fourth inverter, aninput terminal of the fourth inverter being connected to the DBI encoderunit to receive the read data from the DBI encoder unit; a first logicAND gate, a first input terminal of the first logic AND gate beingconnected to the DBI encoder unit to receive the read data from the DBIencoder unit, and a second input terminal of the first logic AND gatebeing connected to an output terminal of the third inverter; a secondlogic AND gate, a first input terminal of the second logic AND gatebeing configured to receive the DBI data through the DBI signal line,and a second input terminal of the second logic AND gate being connectedto an output terminal of the fourth inverter; and a logic OR gate, twoinput terminals of the logic OR gate being respectively connected to anoutput terminal of the first logic AND gate and an output terminal ofthe second logic AND gate, and an output terminal of the logic OR gatebeing connected to the global bus to output the global bus data.
 8. Theread operation circuit according to claim 1, wherein the data buffermodule comprises a plurality of PMOS transistors, a gate of each of theplurality of PMOS transistors being connected to the memory bank, adrain of each of the plurality of PMOS transistors being connected tothe global bus; and wherein the precharge module comprises a pluralityof NMOS transistors and a plurality of hold circuits, a gate of each ofthe plurality of NMOS transistors being connected to the prechargesignal line, a drain of each of the plurality of NMOS transistors beingconnected to the global bus, and an input terminal and an outputterminal of each of the plurality of hold circuits being connected tothe global bus.
 9. A semiconductor memory, comprising a Data Queue (DQ)port, a data bus inversion (DBI) port, a memory bank, and a readoperation circuit, wherein the read operation circuit comprising: a DBIencoder connected to the memory bank, wherein the DBI encoder isconfigured to read read data from the memory bank, and determine whetherto invert the read data according to the number of bits of high data inthe read data to output global bus data for transmission through aglobal bus and DBI data for transmission through a DBI signal line;wherein the DBI port is configured to receive the DBI data; aparallel-to-serial conversion circuit connected between the DQ port andthe DBI encoder through the global bus and configured to performparallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data to generate outputdata of the DQ port; a data buffer module connected to the memory bankthrough the global bus; and a precharge module connected to a prechargesignal line and configured to set an initial state of the global bus toLow.
 10. A read operation method used in a semiconductor memory,comprising: setting an initial state of a global bus to Low; readingread data from a memory bank; determining whether to invert the readdata according to number of bits of high data in the read data to outputglobal bus data for transmission through the global bus and data businversion (DBI) data for transmission through a DBI signal line; andperforming parallel-to-serial conversion on the global bus data togenerate output data of a Data Queue (DQ) port.
 11. The read operationmethod according to claim 10, wherein the determining whether to invertthe read data according to the number of bits of high data in the readdata to output global bus data for transmission through the global busand DBI data for transmission through a DBI signal line comprises:outputting inverted data of the read data as the global bus data andsetting the DBI data to High if the number of bits of the high data inthe read data is greater than a preset value; and outputting originalread data as the global bus data and setting the DBI data to Low if thenumber of bits of the high data in the read data is less than or equalto the preset value.
 12. The read operation method according to claim10, wherein the determining whether to invert the read data according tothe number of bits of high data in the read data to output global busdata for transmission through the global bus and DBI data fortransmission through a DBI signal line comprises: dividing the read datainto M groups, wherein each group of read data has N bits, both the Mand the N being integers greater than 1; outputting inverted data of agroup of read data inputted as a corresponding group of global bus dataand setting 1-bit DBI data corresponding to the group of read datainputted to High if the number of bits of high data in the group of readdata inputted is greater than N/2; and outputting a group of read datainputted as a corresponding group of global bus data and setting 1-bitDBI data corresponding to the group of read data inputted to Low ifnumber of bits of the high data in the group of read data inputted isless than or equal to N/2.